Woodlands County families are returning to their homes after being evacuated on April 28 due to an ice jam that caused floods.

The local state of emergency for Flats Road was lifted at 7:05 a.m. on May 4. The evacuated residents with the exception of one were also allowed back to their homes.

“Our team did a really good job (with the evacuations),” said Woodlands County Mayor Jim Rennie, noting the strong performance of County administration and the disaster services group that included the Town of Whitecourt and emergency services.

The County had to evacuate 11 residences from the Flats Road area, affecting 34 people according to a press release. The ice jam that caused the flooding has since melted and the floodwaters are receding.

No one was injured during the floods and the County is busy rebuilding Flats Road, which suffered extensive damage. Barricades remain in place and the County is asking the public to continue to avoiding the area until further notice.

Rennie said the County did not have a cost estimate for property damage but added that it was extensive.

“It’s very unfortunate that this situation has occurred in our municipality and we will be working with our residents as best as we can to help elevate as much as possible,” Rennie said in a press release. “If you have any questions, please call our County office.”

According to a press release from the Town of Whitecourt, the localized flooding along Flats Road did not impact any properties within Whitecourt. A creek running through Rotary Park overflowed but has since receded. Pritchard Trail and Riverside Trail are reopened, while the Off Leash Dog Park parking lot has also been reopened.

The County is also reaching out to the provincial government for assistance funding. Rennie said he had success with asking for assistance funding in the past but wasn’t sure if the province would give funding for an ice-jam flood.

Residents also evacuated four residences in the lower Pride Valley area near Fort Assiniboine on April 29. The County has since lifted its state of emergency for the area and residents are returning.

An ice jam also briefly formed west of Whitecourt near Windfall but caused no major incidents.